Why Putting Visine on Your Blemishes Is the Acne Hack You Need to Try

If you wear contact lenses or are prone to allergies, you've probably already got Visine at home. Well, you would never, ever guess it, but the same drops that get the red out can also pull double-duty as skin care: One or two drops patted onto the skin under your eyes can make your dark circles less noticeable. Seriously. I'm not making this up.

"Broken or dilated blood vessels under your eyes often cause or contribute to dark circles, especially if your skin is very fair," says David Bank, a dermatologist in Mount Kisco, New York. "Visine constricts blood vessels, so it'll make that less obvious."

If your dark circles are only caused by genetics or hyperpigmentation, the trick (sadly) won't work. But the good news is, there's an easy way to self-diagnose: Press a clear shot glass against the area, and if it becomes immediately lighter, your circles are caused by blood vessels showing through the skin and you can give this Visine idea a try.

Now, as promised, trick number two: "Visine also takes the red out of pimples," says Bank. It won't make your pimple smaller, but it will look less obvious for a few hours.

Take a cue from makeup artist Matin Maulawizada, who swears by the simple skin trick for minimizing the appearance of pimples in a pinch. Just take a cotton swab soaked in the redness-relieving drops and lightly dab it on any blemished areas you want to look less noticeable.

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While Visine might not benefit your complexion from a skin-care standpoint, it still makes for a nice hack to rely on when you want to get the redness out, stat. You can snag it now at your local drugstore, or on amazon.com for $6.